ORIGIN

Pride listened quietly, and something about Nassir's demeanor--his words, too; but his heartfelt earnesty--struck his core. The desire for a place... without hurt resonated. Isn't that what he'd always wanted, himself? Some form of order, yes; protectors, certainly. But it was all for the same purpose.

At last the stag pulled himself slowly from the mud, pausing to regard the teal chrysalis beneath him.

"That is what I want, too. A wise desire, I think," he answered, quietly.

A long, quiet pause, but he was up now, dripping foul swamp, but up. "Others have thought me, I think, too violent. Too willing to turn to aggression. And while... at times, it is needed," he said, nodding back vaguely in the direction of the finished battle, "I often ask myself how far 'too far' might be. I think keeping your goal in mind is... a good thing to aim for." The stag nodded down again at the chrysoprase beneath him. "Ending this creature's threat was one way to remove some pain from this cave. But pulling it out again--that will, as well." The bear would not emerge choking and dying into the mud, again and again; instead he would emerge alive and well. And perhaps they were violent; but they had done this, too--or at least Pride had; but he was certain Nassir would have helped him--and would Rift have bothered..? Would any of those who had challenged his values?

Pride didn't know, but... he didn't think so. Most of them, he imagined, simply wouldn't have bothered. It gave him at least a little cheer; at least a tidbit of hope that he, himself, was not too far gone.

He turned away, thinking, inhaling deep--and that was a mistake; caves, but Cetus stinks.

"I have invited the others to train with us before. I think I will rest a few days--caves willing, and then see what I can do for the Kingdom. Not for Rift--but for Mercurius. And then, as you say, perhaps a meeting. And we will see if they would train with us again. I wonder if it might be worthwhile simply to offer their young ones training-?" he pondered, aloud, peering thoughtfully at Nassir. "Though they seem skilled enough on their own--ahh, the rest first. The rest. You are right in that, at least."

But he would need to see about Eridanus. Whatever had happened with Rift, Mercurius' grove was his sanctuary, and seeing it forcibly abandoned...

...It was wrong.

"Thank you for speaking with me, Nassir. Are you--ready to head back, now?"

Pride considered, then gently shook his head--and lifted one hind leg from the muck to flick a dripping slop of mud free.

"No, don't arrange anything just yet," he answered, quietly. "I'll make that offer to Dragon as we leave--but the Kingdom of Eridanus are still in hiding. I can't ask them to come out and hold a meeting with us. I do not yet know what to meet about, regardless. It may be best just to speak to Aure on our own time," he added, thoughtful.

Yes; he'd speak to Dragon briefly before they left, offer to train any young ones the old alligator wished (and how old was he?) and then head back to Orion.

For a much-needed rest.

"Let's get Reign, then," Pride agreed quietly--though he doubted the cheetah would get lost.

Not like Zothra had; and the thought soured his recovering mood.